Comment: Outbreak should not have been kept secret

Oct 11 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THE fact that vulnerable people, whose wellbeing was the responsibility of a local authority, were at risk of exposure to the deadly Legionella bacteria, is a worrying one.

The risk of Legionnaires Disease – a potentially fatal form of pneumonia – led to the immediate evacuation of a council-run day care centre in Liverpool after it emerged the water supply was infected.

And it has now sparked demands for an independent inquiry into the matter.

While one person contracted Legionnnaires Disease as a result of their time at Holt Hall this story could, of course, have had a very different outcome.

The Health and Safety Executive is quite clear on what actions must be taken to prevent exposure to the Legionella bacteria; it states that “dutyholders” must comply with legislation requiring them to manage, maintain and treat water systems in their premises properly.

The council insists there was “no immediate risk “ but the issue has been further blurred by accusations of families and staff being kept in the dark as to what had happened.

Local councillor Janet Kent should be commended for her determination to find out just what has been going on; they may have acted promptly once the infection was discovered but council executives cannot defend the fact that – despite the discovery of the infected water supply in August – councillors only learned of it this week.

Opposition councillors are seeking an investigation to ensure there is no danger of this situation being repeated.

But Cllr Kent asks the more pertinent question: Why was the whole story not communicated more fully and clearly? This is not really an issue where the council has failed a duty of care – it has discovered the problem and relocated those who were at risk from infection.

Perhaps the real failing here is that the families and carers of those vulnerable day care centre users were allowed to remain in the dark, when there was no reason not to inform them.